CJPME Factsheet 84, published June, 2010: This factsheet provides an overview of the area known as the Golan Heights, a rocky plateau located in south-western Syria which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. Today, Israel exports roughly $22 million dollars worth of wine each year — with approximately 38% originating from the Golan Heights. By buying and selling wine from the Golan Heights, Canadian liquor commerce encourages and legitimizes Israel’s military occupation of the Golan. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 86, published June, 2010: Cultural boycotts are undertaken to express repugnance for the conduct of a country or its government, and are often accompany economic boycotts, and may or may not extend to the academic sphere. This factsheet looks at the call for the cultural boycott of Israel in particular; the prominent artists or academics boycotting this country, and how successful cultural boycotts against other countries have been in the past. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 81, published June, 2010: This factsheet looks into Israel’s attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla at the end of May, 2010. Since 2007 Israel enforced a blockade on the Gaza Strip that has since triggered humanitarian and economic hardship.  Israel’s violent attack against the humanitarian boat convoy resulted in the death of nine activist (eight Turks and one American). The Israeli commandos’ bloody attack sparked an outcry across the world and provoked an unprecedented wave of protests against the Gaza blockade. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 87, published June, 2010: This factsheet looks at the illegality of the Israeli blockade of Gaza. While the Israeli government argues its blockade of Gaza is legal, the opposite is true under the laws of war. To date, several neutral international organizations have condemned the blockade on grounds that it amounts to collective punishment and in clear violation of Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law. This factsheet also provides an overview of the several alternatives (other than a blockade) that can address Israel’s security concerns. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 88, published June, 2010: From June, 2007, until June 2010, Israel and Egypt imposed an extremely harsh blockade on Gaza after Hamas, an Islamist political party with an armed wing, took control of Gaza in June, 2007. Following Israel’s attack on a Gaza aid flotilla on May 31, 2010, and the international condemnation that resulted, Israel started to take steps to loosen the blockade. This factsheet looks at the justifications offered by Egypt and Israel for blockading Gaza, how they enforce it, what products are allowed and not allowed into the strip, and what are the most salient social and health impacts of the blockade. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 82, published June, 2010: This factsheet provides an overview of Indigo Books and Music Inc., Canada’s largest retail bookstore and the third largest in North America. Husband and wife Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman, who control 68% of the assets of the company, established the HESEG Foundation for Lone Soldiers in 2005 to encourage foreign soldiers to join the Israeli army and continue their studies in Israel. By supporting and rewarding the « Lone Soldiers », Reisman and Schwartz by means of Indigo Books and Music Inc., indirectly support Israel military efforts in the occupation of the Palestinian territories.  Please note that a revised and updated version of this factsheet was published in December 2023. Click here to be directed to the latest version. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 80, published May, 2010: This factsheet provides an overview of the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI), a political faction that has emerged as an alternative to Fatah and Hamas, and is gaining support among Palestinian civil society. Unlike the majority of Palestinian political factions, the PNI has no armed wing and practices peaceful resistance to the occupation. This factsheet also looks at the life of Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, a politically active physician and co-founder of several institutions and initiatives, including the PNI. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 77, published April, 2010: This factsheet looks into the so-called Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Antisemitism (CPCCA), a temporary body created by a number of pro-Israel organizations in Canada.  The CPCCA’s mandate was defined in a manner which predisposed it to conclude that there has been a dramatic increase in anti-Semitism in Canada and that political action against Israel contributes to anti-Semitism. This factsheet examines the methods and conclusions of this controversial body. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 79, published April, 2010: This factsheet looks at how freedom of expression is protected in Canada, as well as what constitutes hate speech and what laws pertain to it in Canada, particularly Section 318 and Section 319 of the Canadian Criminal Code. This factsheet also addresses the question of whether criticism of Israel can be equated with hate speech. Continue reading

CJPME Factsheet 75, published March, 2010: This factsheet provides an overview of Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW), an annual series of international conferences often hosted on university campuses.  IAW activities often feature lectures, film screenings, cultural activities and demonstrations aimed at raising awareness about Israel’s apartheid-like policies toward Palestinians. Continue reading